Uni clearing nightmare

[Kaleidogyn]

Ughhhhh. This is prob going to be a long one, and possibly I just need a vent.

Son has SEN & physical disabilities & long term health issues. He was at college doing BTEC in IT & things were awful at college - SENCO left, they didn't know he had an EHCP, they bullied me about his absences, he had 7 teachers in 2 years as they all left. OFSTED had it in the old 'special measures' through 3 inspections. He had to change the qualification he had intended as he missed so much. But in the end he pulled it out of the bag & got double Merit.

He was advised to apply for uni (after UCAS deadline, so thro clearing) & yesterday was given an offer at the uni he wanted to go too. We were elated, but I had a niggling doubt.

Uni clearing said he had enough points & my concerns over the qualification code weren't founded as there were different codes for diff exam boards.

I still had niggling doubts & asked college to confirm today & I was right. The code was wrong & he doesn't have enough points.

I suffer from severe MH problems & I'm having a huge meltdown.

We've been thro so much (domestic violence while I was preg, no contact w/ his dad for 17 years now, estranged from my family, over 20 operations, degenerative neuromuscular condition on top of lots of other chronic health issues). I just feel that it never goes right & I feel so hopeless.

Maybe this should be in a mental health board??

Just need a handhold. I'm trying to figure out what to do but uni said yesterday that if qual was wrong he didn't have enough points.

[LIZS]

So is his actual qualification not the full level 3 diploma, for example. Is there any possible flexibilty by the uni due to his circumstances to supplement his points? Could he take a foundation year perhaps? It isn't the end of his dream (assuming it is his not yours) , there are various routes to a degree.

[Kaleidogyn]

His qualification is the Level 3, but not extended. The list of qualifications is very confusing. One that I thought he had says 64, which is perfect, but college said today it's 48! I just don't get it. After saying he couldn't ever go to uni, they suddenly said he could - to do a foundation course - which is what he'd applied for. College still haven't replied with full qualification name & details so I can double check. I can't trust them with anything!

[titchy]

The non-extended L3 diploma has 64 tariff points for MM - that sounds like what he's got and it should be enough:

https://www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

[Kaleidogyn]

Thank you titchy. They're saying it's the 90 credit diploma.

[titchy]

Ahhh... did he manage to do anything else that's tariff able? Extra credits on the diploma that didn't count towards the diploma that he did anyway? An AS level? Music exams? ECDL?

The 90 credit diploma is one and a half A levels equivalent so he only needs half an A level equivalent.

[Kaleidogyn]

Thank you so much titchy. He did a BTEC in business at school (before this stupid college) would that count? How do I find out it's tariff????

[titchy]

Was it a GCSE equivalent (level 2) or higher? To get tariff point it needs to be level 3 (A level equivalent).

[Kaleidogyn]

That I can't remember. I'll ask him in the morning. Thank you though. I have no idea about any of this stuff.

[Kaleidogyn]

Arse, you were right - was Level 2.

Off to call another uni who he says has lower tariff for foundation.

[titchy]

Don't know where you are in the country but there's at least one that will take him onto a Foundation Year with 48 tariff points:

Anglia Ruskin

[Kez100]

OK. So he has an IT qualification. Not a bad industry to get into!

Is he really Uni material - will he love studying for another 3 years or is it more just to keep him occupied?

What about looking at apprenticeships on the gov.uk apprentice websites? Search all levels. See if there is anything he would like to apply for as this is an industry that lends itself to apprenticeships as so much of it is practical.

[Kaleidogyn]

Thank you again titchy This morning I've spoken to another uni where he does meet the criteria - we live very near it. The problem now is they won't make an offer without first seeing the diploma certificate, which he doesn't YET have & college is closed til Sept.

Called college. They're calling the second uni tomorrow. Will send them a letter confirming he has this qualification until certificate available. Hoping that works.

He does want to go to uni, I think he'll find it hard, but tbh with his disabilities & dyspraxia I'm honestly certain he couldn't yet cope with work / apprenticeship. That's what we were planning, but he has said he is terrified of not being able to manage. If that makes sense.

[Kaleidogyn]

Sorry Kez100 I started typing & forgot your username! Thank you for replying!!

[shortgreengiraffe]

Certificates aren't usually issued until a few months after results (the exam boards need time and it also allows for appeals and remarks). What I expect the Uni need is his transcript/statement of results which the College should have given him when the results came out. Do you still have that? If not you should contact the exam board asap to ask if they can send a copy. It might need to be requested via the college. The college should have someone in this week as they will be dealing with other results (assuming they teach A levels) so try them and make clear it is urgent.